The 2026 NFL preseason officially kicks off its first full week this Thursday, August 13, with five matchups hitting the gridiron. The night wraps with Titans vs. 49ers at 9 p.m. ET. Picking these early games is tough, especially with teams playing stars conservatively. But SportsLine’s Larry Hartstein, a top expert, has locked in a buzzing pick, all thanks to a coach with an insane preseason track record.
Robert Saleh’s Preseason Magic Is No Joke
Hartstein, a former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, brings a serious analytical game. He knows his stuff, finishing the 2025 season with a 50-37-1 run, a killer 57.5% success rate on his NFL betting picks. So, when he picks, people listen. For Thursday night, he’s all in on the Tennessee Titans, favored (-2.5) on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. The secret? Their new head coach, Robert Saleh. This Thursday marks Saleh’s debut leading the Titans, after spending last season as the 49ers defensive coordinator. Hartstein expects the Titans to approach this game seriously. Dating back to his time as Jets head coach, Saleh has an absolutely ridiculous preseason record of 10-2-1 straight-up and 10-3 against the spread. That’s no fluke; that’s a pattern, and why Hartstein is so confident.
Veteran QBs Give Titans a Critical Edge
Beyond Saleh’s proven preseason prowess, the Titans are rocking serious veteran depth at quarterback, a huge advantage in early August football. Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis are listed as the main backup quarterbacks, and both bring plenty of NFL starting experience. That’s a massive deal when starters typically ride the bench or play limited snaps. Hartstein didn’t hold back, telling SportsLine, “Saleh is 10-2-1 straight-up in the preseason, 10-3 ATS. The Titans’ main backup quarterbacks, Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis, both have plenty of NFL starting experience. Tennessee opened as the only road team favored Thursday for a reason.” That insight gets you fired up. It’s a solid read on a team prepared and motivated, with the right personnel. Hartstein isn’t stopping there; he’s got two more best bets for Thursday, including backing an underdog with a major edge in quarterback depth.
So, get ready for the Titans and 49ers nightcap game at 9 p.m. ET. With Hartstein’s picks locked in, the early NFL action is shaping up to be a wild one for bettors. You can snag all his full picks and get ready to jump into the action yourself. This Thursday is going to be interesting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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